| El Paso is located at the far western tip of Texas, where Texas, New Mexico and Old Mexico meet. It is the largest international metroplex in the world and seamlessly blends cultures and traditions with a history that spans 400 years since 1598.
On April 30, 1598, Juan de Oñate took formal possession of the area for King Philip II of Spain. Subsequently he crossed the Rio Grande near a site west of present downtown El Paso, which he called “El Paso del Rio del Norte,” meaning the crossing of the river, the first use of the name “El Paso.” El Paso was incorporated as a city in 1873.
El Paso has 248 square miles in area, making it the fourth largest city in Texas. El Paso is the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States with a population estimate in 2015 of 700,000, making it the 19th most populous city in the United States. It is located on the banks of the Rio Grande, opposite the Mexican city of Ciudad Juárez on the south bank.
Shielded by mountains on three sides, the dual cities of El Paso and Juárez, on the Mexican side, are rewarded with more than 300 clear days of sunshine annually and a dry climate, making it possible to enjoy most outdoor activities year-round. Low humidity and moderate rainfall combine to create a year-round climate exclusive to the region.
Based on FBI statistics and compared to other cities with a population of at least 500,000 in 2013, El Paso was the safest large city in the U.S.
From mules to tanks, for the past 168 years Fort Bliss has played a vital role in El Paso’s development as a city. Fort Bliss has played a significant role in local, national, and international affairs, and the relationship between the city and the post has always been close. Fort Bliss is a United States Army post with its headquarters located in El Paso, Texas.
With an area of about 1,700 square miles , it is the Army's second-largest installation, behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's (United States Army Forces Command) largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area (992,000 acres) behind the National Training Center. Fort Bliss provides the largest contiguous tract of 1,500 square miles of restricted airspace in the Continental United States. The airspace is used for missile and artillery training and testing.
Running for 85 years, El Paso is home to one of the oldest and most prestigious rodeos in the world, The Southwestern International PRCA Rodeo. It is the 17th oldest rodeo in the country and ranks as one of the top 50 shows by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
It’s hard to miss the giant star illuminated above the night El Paso sky. That’s because this manmade star is more than 400 feet tall and more than 300 feet wide, lit up by more than 300 light bulbs. The man-made Gigantic Star can be found on the side of the Franklin Mountains.
Cohen Stadium in northeast El Paso hosts minor league baseball home games of the El Paso Diablos, the AA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. During the college football season, the University of Texas at El Paso perennially ranks among the best in the country.
On New Year's Eve, college football's Sun Bowl attracts crowds of more than 40,000 to one of the premier events in the sport. The Sun Bowl also hosts the El Paso Patriots (USL) soccer games, providing affordable entertainment.
The El Paso Independent School District is the city’s largest employer, with Fort Bliss coming in second.
El Paso is a romantic crossroads where Mexico, Texas, and the American Southwest converge with shared histories, culture, art, and cuisine. |
